Unit History: Cameron Highlanders

The Regiment was formed during the height of the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) by Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht in 1793. It was named after one of the most powerful Highland Clans at the time as the Cameronian Volunteers, but soon designated as the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameronian Volunteers). The Regiment was then sent to the West Indies and remained at Martinique for 2 years, where it suffered terribly from disease, to such an extent that fit men were allowed to transfer to other Regiments and only 200 men returned to England in 1797.

In 1799 the regiment was part of the Helder Campaign during the War of the Second Coalition (1798–1802) and took part in the battle at Egmont-op-Zee. The campaign had two objectives: to neutralize the Batavian fleet and to promote an uprising against the Batavian government. The Anglo-Russian forces brokered a deal in order to evacuate from the peninsula after defeat at the Battle of Castricum (1799). The 79th were also part of a failed assault on the Spanish coast at Ferrol in 1800.

In 1808 the 79th Foot moved to Portugal and then Spain as part of the Peninsular War (1808-1814) fighting at the Battle of Corunna, The Battle of Busaco, The defence of Cadiz, The Battle of Fuentes d'Onor, The Battle of Salamanca, The occupation of Madrid, The siege of Burgos, The Battles of the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, and The Battle of Toulouse. In 1815 the 79th formed part of the Duke of Wellington’s force at the Battle of Waterloo. During the battle the Regiment formed a square to repel the French cavalry and Piper Kenneth MacKay stepped outside the square playing the ancient tune of "Cogadh no Sith" (War or Peace) to rallying effect and by nightfall the Great Army of Napoleon had been destroyed.

In 1854 the Regiment served during the Crimean War fighting at the Battles of Alma and Sevastopol. The Regiment then moved to India to assist the Honourable East India Company in crushing The Indian Rebellion of 1857. The 79th took part in the recapture of Lucknow (1858) and then remained in India for 12 years. Upon their return the Regiment were stationed on the Isle of Wight and performed ceremonial duties for Queen Victoria, for which they were awarded the title ‘The 79th Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders’.

In 1881 the Regiment was one of the few to escape amalgamation during the Childers Reforms, due only having one battalion, while the title 79th was dropped and the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders moved to Egypt as part of the successful Tel-el-Kebir remaining in Egypt until 1886. The Regiment then participated in the Boer War and fought at various battles including the fall of Pretoria, the Battle of Diamond Hill, the capture of Spitzkopf and the Battle of Nooitgedacht and returned to Scotland in 1904. The Regiment went on to serve during both World War One and World War Two.

In 1961 as part of the Defence Review the Cameron’s were amalgamated with the Seaforth Highlanders to form the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Cameron’s). In 1994 it was further amalgamated with the Gordon highlanders to become the Highlanders.

Cameron Highlanders during WW1

The Regiment raised 13 Battalions and gained 57 Battle Honours and 3 Victoria Crosses, losing 5,930 men during the course of the war.

1st Battalion 04.08.1914 Stationed at Edinburgh.14.08.1914 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre.05.09.1914 Joined the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division which engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;1914The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, First Battle of Ypres.1915Winter Operations 1914-15, The Battle of Aubers, The Battle of Loos.19.03.1916 Absorbed the 1/4th Battalion.1916The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Pozieres, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval. 1917The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Second Battle of Passchendaele. 1918The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Hazebrouck, The Battle of Bethune, The Battle of Drocourt-Queant, The Battle of Epehy, The Battle of the St Quentin Canal, The Battle of Beaurevoir, The Battle of the Selle, The Battle of the Sambre.11.11.1918 Ended the war at Fresnoy-le-Grand S.W. of Bohain, France.

2nd Battalion04.08.1914 Stationed at Poona, India.16.10.1914 Embarked for England from Bombay arriving at Devonport, Plymouth and then moved to Winchester joining the 81st Brigade of the 27th Division.20.12.1914 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;1915The action of St Eloi, The Second Battle of Ypres.29.11.1915 Embarked for Salonika from Marseilles and engaged in various actions against the Bulgarian Army including;1916The capture of Karajakois, The capture of Yenikoi, The battle of Tumbitza Farm.1917The capture of Homondos.1918The capture of the Roche Noir Salient, The passage of the Vardar river and The pursuit to the Strumica valley.30.09.1918 Ended the war at Izlis N.W. of Doiran, Macedonia.

3rd (Reserve) Battalion04.08.1914 Stationed at Inverness and then moved to Cromarty and then Invergordon, Scotland.Nov 1917 Moved to Ireland and stationed at Birr.Mar 1918 Moved to Ballyvonare Co. Cork.April 1918 Moved to Limerick and then back to Ballyvonare.

1/4th Battalion Territorial Force04.08.1914 Stationed at Inverness as part of the Seaforth & Cameron Brigade of the Highland Division and then moved to Bedford.Feb 1915 Mobilised for war leaving the Highland Division and landing at Havre.23.02.1915 Joined the 24th Brigade of the 8th Division.08.04.1915 Transferred to the 21st Brigade of the 7th Division and engaged in various actions ont he Western front including;1915The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, The Battle of Aubers, The Battle of Festubert, The second action of Givenchy, The Battle of Loos.20.12.1915 Transferred to the 91st Brigade of the 7th Division.07.01.1916 Transferred to the 154th Brigade of the 51st Division.28.02.1916 Moved to base leaving the 51st Division.19.03.1916 Absorbed into the 1st Battalion.

2/4th Battalion Territorial ForceSept 1914 Formed at Inverness.Jan 1915 Transferred to the 191st Brigade of the 64th Division.April 1915 Moved to Fort George.July 1915 Moved to Blair Atholl and then Aberfeldy.Jan 1916 Became the No. 3 battalion and moved to Norwich.June 1916 Moved to Blickling and then Kelling and then Cromer.April 1917 Moved to Kelling and then Cromer.Feb 1918 Disbanded.

3/4th Battalion Territorial ForceApril 1915 Formed at Inverness and then moved to Ripon.08.04.1916 Became the 4th Reserve Battalion.July 1916 Disbanded.

5th (Service) BattalionAug 1914 Formed at Inverness as part of the First New Army (K1) and then moved to Aldershot as part of the 26th Brigade of the 9th Division.Feb 1915 Moved to Guadaloupe Barracks, Bordon.10.05.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne and engaged in various actions on the Western front including;1915The Battle of Loos1916The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Delville Wood, The Battle of Le Transloy. 1917The First Battle of the Scarpe, The Second Battle of the Scarpe, The First Battle of Passchendaele, The action of Welsh Ridge. 1918The Battle of St Quentin, The First Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Messines, The Battle of Bailleul, The First Battle of Kemmel, The Second Battle of Kemmel, The Advance in Flanders, The Final Advance in Flanders, The Battle of Courtrai, The action of Ooteghem.11.11.1918 Ended the war at Harlebeke north of Courtrai, Belgium.

6th (service) BattalionSept 1914 Formed at Inverness as part of the Second New Army (K2) and then moved to Maida Barracks, Aldershot as part of the 45th Brigade of the 15th Division and then moved to Bramshott.Feb 1915 Moved to Basingstoke and then Chisledon.10.07.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;1915The Battle of Loos.1916German gas attacks near Hulluch, The defence of the Kink position, The Battle of Pozieres, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Le Transloy.1917The First Battle of the Scarpe, The Second Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of Pilckem, The Battle of Langemark. 1918The First Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras, The Battle of the Soissonnais, The attack on Buzancy, The Final Advance in Artois.11.11.1918 Ended the war moving between Baugnies and Ellignies Ste. Anne south of Leuze, Belgium.

7th (Service) Battalion28.09.1914 Formed at Inverness and then moved to Salamanca Barracks, Aldershot.13.01.1915 Joined the 44th Brigade of the 15th Division to replace the 9th Gordon Highlanders.Jan 1915 Moved to Liphook and then Cirencester and then Chisledon and then Parkhouse, Tidworth.09.07.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;1915The Battle of Loos.1916German gas attacks near Hulluch, The defence of the Kink position, The Battle of Pozieres, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Le Transloy.1917The First Battle of the Scarpe, The Second Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of Pilckem, The Battle of Langemark. 1918The First Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras. 10.06.1918 Reduced to training cadre as part of the 118th Brigade of the 39th Division, surplus personnel of 21 Officers and 383 men transferred to the 6th Battalion.14.08.1918 Disbanded at Listergaux S.W. of Audruicq.

8th (Reserve) BattalionNov 1914 Formed at Invergordon as a service battalion of the Fourth New Army (K4) and joined the 101st Brigade of the 34th Division.Feb 1915 Moved to Inverness.10.04.1915 Became a 2nd Reserve Battalion and then moved to Tain, Scotland.Oct 1915 Moved to Catterick as part of the 9th Reserve Brigade.Mar 1916 Move to Stirling and became the 40th Training Reserve Battalion.

9th (Labour) BattalionAug 1916 Formed at Blairgowrie, Scotland.06.09.1916 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and deployed to defend the Lines of Communication.April 1917 Transferred to the Labour Corps as the 7th & 8th Labour Companies.

10th (Lovat's Scouts) Battalion Territorial Force27.09.1916 Formed at Cairo from two dismounted Yeomanry of the 1/1st & 1/2nd Lovat's Scouts.20.10.1916 Mobilised for war and landed at Salonika joining the 82nd Brigade of the 27th Division and engaged in various actions against the Bulgarian Army including;1916The Capture of Karajakois, The Capture of Yenikoi, The Battle of Tumbitza Farm. 1917The Capture of Homondos.June 1918 Deployed to France leaving the 27th Division.06.07.1918 Defending the Lines of Communication.

11th (Service) Battalion10.06.1918 Formed at Lederzeele north of St. Omer from the 6th Garrison Guard Battalion as part of the 120th Brigade of the 40th Division.13.07.1918 The title of 'Garrison' dropped and the Division engaged in various actions ont he Western Front including;The Final Advance in Flanders, including the Battle of Ypres.11.11.1918 Ended the war at Warcoing on the River Scheldt east of Roubaix, Belgium.

1st (Home Service) Garrison BattalionFeb 1917 Formed at Invergordon and then became the 18th Battalion of the Royal Defence Corps.